Hey this is academic integrity from the old board.

So, I was raised Mormon, and I can not tell people apart based on facial features. I most easily confuse people who have similar styles, and mannerisms. By style: I mean hair styles and clothing. I can tell people apart by their walk, mannerisms, style of dress, voice, intonation and accent.

I cannot tell half of Hollywood actors/actresses apart. So many of them look alike.

This has recently become a topic of lunch-discussion at my job, and my coworkers and I believe that I learned to recognize people this way in early childhood because Mormons tend to have similar features, and are pretty much the same race [at least in my old ward]. This would definitely explain my situation, because last week I confused a coworker I know very well for a co-worker of an entirely different race and she waited to correct me to see when I'd notice. It was nearly 45 seconds, before my brian processed the face I was looking at.

So how about you? Did you grow up Mormon? Do you notice facial features first or last? Do you notice hair type? most frequent style of dress? mannerisms? the way they walk or talk? When you confuse person's name/identity: what is the feature they have in common that most frequently causes your confusion?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopagnosia

If you do have it, that would explain a lot.

That was interesting reading for sure.

But I definitely don't have face blindness, and I got a 100% on the ASVAB structural test, so I don't think this is Prosopagnosia or Prosopamnesia.

My mind just automatically notices non-facial/racial features first.

I think this can be traced to growing up with similar people, in a huge family where individuals features and ages were very similar. I'm wondering if this is the case for other people raised Mormon, because that would support my theory. If it's not similar, than I'm just different.

Friend of mine from AZ says: "Pale skin. They're either in school, church, or working inside all the time."

I say: "Apparent undershirt, no matter how hot. CTR ring."